Area academic experts said where Biden was aggressive, mocking and at times even obnoxious, Ryan was collected, poised and came across as likable.

While neither delivered a knockout blow, it's what Biden did — not what he said — that might prove decisive.

"Vice President Biden used this debate as an opportunity to hit back hard against a resurgent Romney and to fire up the dispirited Democratic base "»" wrote Jack Strain, a professor in the Department of Communications at the University of Scranton.

"However, Biden's derisive sneers, mocking laughter and generally obnoxious behavior may have done more to turn off female voters and independents and ultimately done more harm to the president's re-election hopes."

Strain noted, "The more interesting story line that very well may drive the media narrative after this debate may not be that the American people witnessed a tie, but that Congressman Ryan showed great character in the face of the vice president's near-boorish behavior."

The debate also served to heighten the importance of next week's second presidential debate, professors from the region said.

"Both candidates played to their respective bases. Biden's emotion will fire up the liberal base (something needed after the presidential debate)," wrote John Tindell, an associate professor in communication studies at Northampton Community College's Monroe campus.

"Ryan's logic will please the conservative base. But which will motivate the undecided voter? In the end, I think neither. Voters do not vote for VP candidates. But both accomplished what was needed of them. Biden put a spark back into the Democratic base. And Ryan introduced himself to a national stage and came across as rational and likable."

While Democrats will applaud Biden's interrupting Ryan, and his aggressive style, and Republicans will view it as obnoxious, the question is how independents will judge that performance, wrote Adam McGlynn, an assistant professor of political science at East Stroudsburg University.

"At the end of the day, while this round went to the Democrats, the last two presidential debates will matter more as the country looks to see whether President Obama can recover from his poor performance last week and whether Gov. Romney can give an equally stellar performance as he did in Denver," McGlynn said.

Strain said neither candidate emerged as a clear and obvious winner, unlike the lopsided first presidential match-up last week.

"Overall, Gov. Romney and the Republican faithful will be pleased by Ryan's performance and his ability to stand toe to toe with the vice president means that the president will be forced to bring the fight to Romney himself. No more surrogates are available to win the American people over. Round 2 on Tuesday night very well may go a long way to determine the outcome of this election."